A REVIEW into the brutal murder of Jeanette Goodwin by her violent ex-partner has found police failed to check on her despite a call to them on the day of her death.

Mrs Goodwin, 47, was murdered in her home, in Quebec Avenue, Southend, by Martin Bunch, 44, of Southchurch Road, Southend, on July 24, 2011.

Bunch stabbed her more than 20 times and was jailed for 27 years for carrying out the killing.

Now a domestic homicide review by the Southend Community Safety Partnership has revealed numerous failings in the lead up to her death.

Among them is how Mrs Goodwin, a mum-of-three, called officers at 2.30pm on the day of her death to inform them she was being harrassed by Bunch.

She told officers she was going out and arranged for them to check on her at 4.30pm.

However, no checks were made until, at 7.30pm, the panic alarm at her home was activated.

When officers arrived, she was dead.

Other failures were how Bunch was able to break his bail and how information was not shared between agencies.

Christine Doorley, the independent chairman who led the review, said: “The most important lesson to be learnt here is to make sure all information is recorded in real time with no backlog and shared with the right people.

“At any one time there were gaps in the transfer of information.

“The problems were in management of the perpetrator in terms of the criminal justice system.

“Speaking to the family, they felt the justice process had not been right and I agree with them.

“There were mistakes with the technical knowledge and understandings of bail, bail conditions and options around sentencing.

“He did not fulfil any of his sentences and was never brought back to court for those issues.

“The family feel let down. There is evidence that process didn’t work as it should have.”

Bunch was known to the police and had 79 convictions and a history of mental health needs and drug and alcohol abuse.

Mrs Goodwin first reported him to police in January 2011 after she received two black eyes. She reported he had threatened her and she ended their relationship.

Police identified her as being at high risk of domestic abuse and her case was correctly referred to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference.

There were numerous charges brought against Bunch in the following months concerning Mrs Goodwin and other victims.

However, a prosecution failed when, grieving for her late father, Mrs Goodwin felt unable and too fearful to give evidence in court.

Things worsened from May 2011 when, in a six-week period, Mrs Goodwin received 255 phone calls and 79 texts from Bunch.

He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court charged with harrassment on July 22, 2011, and was released on conditional bail before a trial on August 17.

ESSEX Police has pledged victims of domestic abuse will be listened to and helped.

The force says it welcomes the report into the murder of Jeanette Goodwin and is already making improvements, which it says will all be complete by the end of the month.

Among the many improvements police say they have made is the setting up of a new domestic abuse crime unit at Southend police station to provide a dedicated response for all domestic abuse cases.

Other measures include:

Daily reviews of all domestic abuse incidents and crimes

Regular meetings about how to improve outcomes for victims, chaired by the chief constable

Developing a joint initiative with Southend Council to bring a specially-trained domestic abuse police officer and a social worker together to assess domestic abuse incidents as they are reported.

Chief Supt Luke Collison said: “Much has changed since the victim’s tragic death and work continues to improve the consistency and co-ordination of our response to domestic abuse.

“There is a lot being done, both inside the force, and with partners. Domestic abuse is one of the biggest challenges we face.

“Every day we deal with an average of 80 incidents, each one quite rightly demanding a professional and effective response.

“Essex Police rightly dedicates significant resources to tackling this issue and our commitment to meeting this demand and keeping vulnerable people safe is unequivocal.

“Together with our partners we remain committed to helping victims of domestic abuse and we would urge anyone suffering at the hands of a violent offender to contact us immediately. Our pledge is this: ‘We will listen to you and we will help you’.”

Comments

While Mrs Goodwin was being stabbed, the police were probably out catching speeding motorists. Congratulations to Essex police on another fantastic result. Not. Nick Alston shove your crime statistics up your a55.

While Mrs Goodwin was being stabbed, the police were probably out catching speeding motorists. Congratulations to Essex police on another fantastic result. Not. Nick Alston shove your crime statistics up your a55.Crime Pays

While Mrs Goodwin was being stabbed, the police were probably out catching speeding motorists. Congratulations to Essex police on another fantastic result. Not. Nick Alston shove your crime statistics up your a55.

Score: 7

supermadmax
7:49am Tue 4 Mar 14

This was before Nicks time but you raise an interesting point if the police were not wasting time dealing with 'victims' lying to them or leaving out bit of vital information, all the false reports that we see here every week and criminal on criminal crime then they would have more time to deal with genuine cases.

As for this guy, he appears to be a classic control freak bully and a clear example of where the death penalty should be reintroduced.

This was before Nicks time but you raise an interesting point if the police were not wasting time dealing with 'victims' lying to them or leaving out bit of vital information, all the false reports that we see here every week and criminal on criminal crime then they would have more time to deal with genuine cases.
As for this guy, he appears to be a classic control freak bully and a clear example of where the death penalty should be reintroduced.supermadmax

This was before Nicks time but you raise an interesting point if the police were not wasting time dealing with 'victims' lying to them or leaving out bit of vital information, all the false reports that we see here every week and criminal on criminal crime then they would have more time to deal with genuine cases.

As for this guy, he appears to be a classic control freak bully and a clear example of where the death penalty should be reintroduced.

Score: 6

Natter
8:03am Tue 4 Mar 14

Sadly it's too late for this poor family, but we can only hope the failings will bring new and improved protection for those women, children and men who are at risk.
Domestic violence is unacceptable on any level and this was a very avoidable loss of life, should she have had the right protection.
Thoughts to her family and friends.

Sadly it's too late for this poor family, but we can only hope the failings will bring new and improved protection for those women, children and men who are at risk.
Domestic violence is unacceptable on any level and this was a very avoidable loss of life, should she have had the right protection.
Thoughts to her family and friends.Natter

Sadly it's too late for this poor family, but we can only hope the failings will bring new and improved protection for those women, children and men who are at risk.
Domestic violence is unacceptable on any level and this was a very avoidable loss of life, should she have had the right protection.
Thoughts to her family and friends.

Score: 4

peacefulness
9:29am Tue 4 Mar 14

So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.

So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.peacefulness

So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.

Score: 3

Crime Pays
12:13pm Tue 4 Mar 14

peacefulness wrote…

So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.

It was under 3 years ago. The murder took place in July 2011. 2 years 8 months.

[quote][p][bold]peacefulness[/bold] wrote:
So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.[/p][/quote]It was under 3 years ago. The murder took place in July 2011. 2 years 8 months.Crime Pays

peacefulness wrote…

So this was over 3 years ago and what did they do to help the poor young girl Leanne who was recently stabbed and murdered? She also was a victim of domestic abuse and numerous times the police were called, yet she wasn't put on the at risk list, her ex was known to the police as violent and took drugs.

It was under 3 years ago. The murder took place in July 2011. 2 years 8 months.

Score: -1

123xxx
1:12am Wed 5 Mar 14

I got a speeding ticket in Maplin Way Thorpe Bay while this happened. True

Also funny how social services are all over me because my kids school attendance is under 80%. Should they have been looking after this family instead?

I got a speeding ticket in Maplin Way Thorpe Bay while this happened. True
Also funny how social services are all over me because my kids school attendance is under 80%. Should they have been looking after this family instead?123xxx

I got a speeding ticket in Maplin Way Thorpe Bay while this happened. True

Also funny how social services are all over me because my kids school attendance is under 80%. Should they have been looking after this family instead?

Score: 0

123xxx
1:13am Wed 5 Mar 14

Its not the first mother to be murdered lately in Southend is it. My sons friends mother was stabbed to death 2 years ago in town centre and didnt make much headline. I moved here 3 years ago from Brighton. I'm moving back sorry

Its not the first mother to be murdered lately in Southend is it. My sons friends mother was stabbed to death 2 years ago in town centre and didnt make much headline. I moved here 3 years ago from Brighton. I'm moving back sorry123xxx

Its not the first mother to be murdered lately in Southend is it. My sons friends mother was stabbed to death 2 years ago in town centre and didnt make much headline. I moved here 3 years ago from Brighton. I'm moving back sorry

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